I had ridden from Wells across country and had been on the lookout for a view of the place for two days. Finally I came in full sight of it. I was on the summit of the Grapevine Mountains, when I saw Death Valley yawning down beneath.

Now, no one has ever accused me of being superstitious, or believing in spirits, or other things of a like nature, but when I saw Death Valley for the first time a strange feeling came over me. I felt that I had found what I was looking for. I had heard a great deal about the place and had regarded the name with horror, but now when in plain view of it I felt good...This place so avoided by everybody, whose very name made so many shudder, attracted me. - Death Valley Scotty, 1908

Photos from our trip to Death Valley in 2009